All of your advice, I've take consideration in and I thank you very much for. I'm working on my body position. I am tense around the first. Reason: his history to the first barrel. Everyone has ridden him in the rodeo's once before me. Pretty much everyone has fallen off at the first. He's very front endy. I'm starting to learn more about him. Starting to trust him more. I am not that scared that he's going to throw me off by throwing his front feet into the ground. That barrel video was the third time I'd ever competed in. So yes I may look look like a beginner level rider, you know six times competing you're not going to be a champ right away. Also I've only been training for this for about 6 months riding for a year. Unlike some of you guys who have been riding your whole life. He's built like a tank nothing is wrong with him, my vet said "I can't fix attitude" Also I don't hold on to the horn anymore except when I'm I'm heading home and around the barrel after its behind my leg. Besides on the first I hold on to early :/ Trying though. I'm not holding on the whole time! [: I did pretty good Friday thanks for all your help! Couldn't have done it with out all this advice! [:

One year of riding, people are surprised that after a three months of preparing for this, I'm winning with you.

All of your advice, I've take consideration in and I thank you very much for. I'm working on my body position. I am tense around the first. Reason: his history to the first barrel. Everyone has ridden him in the rodeo's once before me. Pretty much everyone has fallen off at the first. He's very front endy.

You mentioned your vet at the end of your post. Did you actually have him checked then, for any soreness or pain issues?

If not, then you especially need to continue to work on pushing him deep into the turn. Keep him on his hindquarters; don't let him get that front end bounciness. Dena Kirkpatrick has got some awesome YouTube videos on making your barrel turns smooth and fluid.

She has a lot more videos than these, so it's worth looking through them all.

That barrel video was the third time I'd ever competed in. So yes I may look look like a beginner level rider, you know six times competing you're not going to be a champ right away. Also I've only been training for this for about 6 months riding for a year. Unlike some of you guys who have been riding your whole life.

So then yes, indeed, you are a beginner when it comes to barrel racing.

No one is saying that is a bad thing (seems like you are trying to defend yourself in your post). All of us were beginners in barrel racing at one time. Everyone has to start somewhere. You're doing just fine, starting out. And I applaud you for coming on here and asking questions and asking for advice.

Also I don't hold on to the horn anymore except when I'm I'm heading home and around the barrel after its behind my leg. Besides on the first I hold on to early :/ Trying though. I'm not holding on the whole time!

Keep trying. Muscle memory and nerves are the two hardest things to get control over. Before your run, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine a perfect barrel run in your head. Imagine yourself keeping both hands on the reins at all times, except in your turns where you can hold on. Imagine having a smooth, deep pocket turn on each barrel. And imagine him running fast with your body having forward motion. And a imagine a perfect first barrel (no bouciness). If you can get your mind to relax and believe it, it will be easier to make it happen.

I think a few users forget what it was like first starting out....but I think you are doing well for a beginner....I have hid all of my beginner videos very deep, I was TERRIBLE and I did not have even half the horse you have.

There are things you need to work on like really moving with your horse in poles...try and "dance" with him more.
As far as barrels go your "stiffer" position will actually help you in your turns...in my opinion someone who can sit still and centered around the turns stays out of the horses way, I would loosen up you arms a little and between barrels let go of that horn! other then that I think you are doing very very well.

He seems to enjoy poles more then barrels...very cute pole run you had, and not a bad time at all!

In barrels he is what I call a very ratey finished barrel horse.
I think you could fix that ratey bounciness on his front end by using two hands, really push him past it, then sit heavy in your seat and just tip his nose with your inside rein....because he is a finished horse (from what I can see) you do not need to check him as much as you are, let him do the work he knows how to do. Also, when running out get off your pockets....lean up a little and give him some rein so he can run.
By doing this I think you would have much nicer turns and faster times.

With time the natural feel of things will come....it is not expected for you to be pro status right out the gate....don't worry or stress over it just continue to try and improve and it will all come to you.
Good Luck :)

The new videos have soooo much improvement in them! Great job! Your pole pattern was very very good. You were loose, your hips weren't tight so you were able to move with the horse as he shifted and changed leaded. Your 2nd turn (at the bottom of the pattern) was absolutely awesome and then your turn for going home was really good too.

On barrels, I see a lot of improvement. You didn't turn right ontop of the barrel, you kept your head up. I loved your hands during the right. (Expect for that hand on the horn going home..same with in poles)

Overall, I think you have really really improved and are only going to get better and better! Great job and keep up the hard work! It's very hard to break bad habits but your are doing so great!

The difference just from your first set of videos, to this new set, is fantastic. Keep it up! He is very ratey so push, push, push with both hands and with body. Looks like you barely would need to pick up the reins for your barrel turns or for the end poles, and he'd pick up on it and turn.

∞•*˚ Βгįťţαňγ ˚*•∞ It is not enough to know how to ride; one must know how to fall.

Yeah, definite improvement! Good job! He does seem to like poles more than barrels, I think he takes care of you too, he seems to know the deal but knows what you can handle and when he needs to help you out a little..I think you have a very good little guy on your hands. You'll continue to grow together and once you have him figured out you can really start adding that speed. It just takes time.. Good luck next week and don't worry about being perfect just yet.. No one is, not even the more advanced riders, we all make mistakes now and then..

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